Can a court order a party to attend mediation?

Yes, a court in the District of Columbia can order a party to attend mediation. Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process where two or more parties can come together and attempt to resolve their differences with the help of a neutral third party, called a mediator. Mediation is commonly used to resolve family law disputes such as divorces, child support, alimony, and division of property. The District of Columbia has enacted a law that allows the court to order a party to attend mediation as part of the pre-litigation process if the parties agree to do so. The court has the authority to require the parties to attend a mediation session before filing a lawsuit. The court can also order either of the parties to submit to mediation if an action has already been filed but the court has not yet started judicial proceedings in the case. In both cases, the court will appoint a mediator and order the parties to attend the sessions. The parties may be allowed to stop attending mediation at any time if they agree to do so, but the court will not end the proceedings until a settlement agreement is reached or all issues have been fully discussed. Additionally, any agreements or disputes that arise during the mediation session may be presented to the court for consideration or enforcement.

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Can a court order a party to attend mediation?

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